Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday’s person of the week.
The person of the week is any one who can tell me how to get blogger to post pictures again. Whenever I try to post a picture with my blog all it downloads is code. This all started when my husband updated Firefox to the newest version. He updated it again hoping it would enable me to download pictures but it did not. I tried to get help from blogger but they are next to useless. I even searched the internet for answers and found none. If anyone out there can tell me how to fix this I will make them the person of the week and if the have a blog I will pimp the heck out if it. Please somebody help me! My blog looks so naked without pictures.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Vocabulary word of the week.
The word is perfidy.
I chose this word because I am currently reading “The tale of Despereaux” to my daughter. It is an enchanting tale about a mouse who dreams of being a knight who saves the princess. The author uses this word and suggests the reader look it up, so naturally I had to do just that.
Perfidy
Part of speech: It is a noun
Origin: It is a Latin word (aren’t they all?) perfidia, from the Latin word perfidus which means treacherous.
Definition: Perfidy is a betrayal, especially of a moral obligation or willful betrayal of fidelity, confidence, or trust.
I chose this word because I am currently reading “The tale of Despereaux” to my daughter. It is an enchanting tale about a mouse who dreams of being a knight who saves the princess. The author uses this word and suggests the reader look it up, so naturally I had to do just that.
Perfidy
Part of speech: It is a noun
Origin: It is a Latin word (aren’t they all?) perfidia, from the Latin word perfidus which means treacherous.
Definition: Perfidy is a betrayal, especially of a moral obligation or willful betrayal of fidelity, confidence, or trust.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
And a weigh we go!
That does it, I am buying a new scale today! According to the one I have I am still maintaining. I am a little afraid of what a new scale will say but I need to know the truth. Hopefully the changes I am making in my eating habits, limiting snaking and cutting out desserts will show up favorably with a new scale.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Tuesday’s person of the week. (A little late)
This week’s person of the week is actually several people of the week. They are the 27 fourth graders I just taught my first math lesson to. They were wonderful. They listened while I read a book about estimation, they participated in an activity I had planned, they completed a hand out, they shared their findings with the class, and finally they wrote about their experience in a paragraph. T he lesson took about an hour and it was exhilarating. There were moments when I had to reign in the discussion to keep them on track and to remind them to be polite and listen as each group shared. I also had to remind then that writing a paragraph was a quiet activity. For the most part they were cooperative and engaged in the lesson.
The feed back I received from the students as to whether or not they enjoyed the lesson was very positive. One student said I was an awesome math teacher another said I rocked. They both got excellent grades on their papers. Two students didn’t like it so much because the activity did get a little loud. All in all it was fun and I owe it all to the wonderful fourth graders and one awesome teacher who has the most incredible classroom management skills I have ever seen. She runs a tight ship but a fun ship. I want to be a teacher like her someday. I am looking forward to the next math lesson I teach. I think I will try something different and not do an activity but teach a concept, model it, give them guided practice, and then independent practice. I have not taught a lesson like that yet and I am curios to see how different it is to teach an activity versus a more traditional lecture type lesson.
I even had papers to grade. That was harder then I thought. I was using a rubric cube to grade the paragraph; their participation, the hand out I gave them, and whether or not they came up with a reasonable estimation. It was easy to grade the estimation, their participation and whether or not they completed the work sheet, but the paragraph was much harder. You want to be fair, but you have to be truthful as well.
This was a much better experience then the last lesson I taught in social studies. The teacher for the past class did not preview the lesson with me before the lesson as this teacher did. I thought this was a great help to me. The social studies teacher did not critique my performance other then to say I did a great job. This teacher took copious notes while I taught and she will go over them with me tomorrow while the students do their AR reading. I am looking forward to hearing what went right and what I can do better. All in all it was a tremendous learning opportunity from planning the lesson, gathering the material, presenting the lesson and assessing their efforts. I think I am going to like teaching.
The feed back I received from the students as to whether or not they enjoyed the lesson was very positive. One student said I was an awesome math teacher another said I rocked. They both got excellent grades on their papers. Two students didn’t like it so much because the activity did get a little loud. All in all it was fun and I owe it all to the wonderful fourth graders and one awesome teacher who has the most incredible classroom management skills I have ever seen. She runs a tight ship but a fun ship. I want to be a teacher like her someday. I am looking forward to the next math lesson I teach. I think I will try something different and not do an activity but teach a concept, model it, give them guided practice, and then independent practice. I have not taught a lesson like that yet and I am curios to see how different it is to teach an activity versus a more traditional lecture type lesson.
I even had papers to grade. That was harder then I thought. I was using a rubric cube to grade the paragraph; their participation, the hand out I gave them, and whether or not they came up with a reasonable estimation. It was easy to grade the estimation, their participation and whether or not they completed the work sheet, but the paragraph was much harder. You want to be fair, but you have to be truthful as well.
This was a much better experience then the last lesson I taught in social studies. The teacher for the past class did not preview the lesson with me before the lesson as this teacher did. I thought this was a great help to me. The social studies teacher did not critique my performance other then to say I did a great job. This teacher took copious notes while I taught and she will go over them with me tomorrow while the students do their AR reading. I am looking forward to hearing what went right and what I can do better. All in all it was a tremendous learning opportunity from planning the lesson, gathering the material, presenting the lesson and assessing their efforts. I think I am going to like teaching.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Wednesday’s poetry corner.
I did not have a specific topic for a poem but I fund this one while I was looking around the net. I have shared Edgar A. Guest in the past. I hope you enjoy this one as well as I did.
Courage
By Edgar A. Guest
Courage isn't a brilliant dash,
A daring deed in a moment's flash;
It isn't an instantaneous thing
Born of despair with a sudden spring
It isn't a creature of flickered hope
Or the final tug at a slipping rope;
But it's something deep in the soul of man
That is working always to serve some plan.
Courage isn't the last resort
In the work of life or the game of sport;
It isn't a thing that a man can call
At some future time when he's apt to fall;
If he hasn't it now, he will have it not
When the strain is great and the pace is hot.
For who would strive for a distant goal
Must always have courage within his soul.
Courage isn't a dazzling light
That flashes and passes away from sight;
It's a slow, unwavering, ingrained trait
With the patience to work and the strength to wait.
It's part of a man when his skies are blue,
It's part of him when he has work to do.
The brave man never is freed of it.
He has it when there is no need of it.
Courage was never designed for show;
It isn't a thing that can come and go;
It's written in victory and defeat
And every trial a man may meet.
It's part of his hours, his days and his years,
Back of his smiles and behind his tears.
Courage is more than a daring deed:
It's the breath of life and a strong man's creed.
Source: http://www.ellenbailey.com/poems/ellen_264.htm
Courage
By Edgar A. Guest
Courage isn't a brilliant dash,
A daring deed in a moment's flash;
It isn't an instantaneous thing
Born of despair with a sudden spring
It isn't a creature of flickered hope
Or the final tug at a slipping rope;
But it's something deep in the soul of man
That is working always to serve some plan.
Courage isn't the last resort
In the work of life or the game of sport;
It isn't a thing that a man can call
At some future time when he's apt to fall;
If he hasn't it now, he will have it not
When the strain is great and the pace is hot.
For who would strive for a distant goal
Must always have courage within his soul.
Courage isn't a dazzling light
That flashes and passes away from sight;
It's a slow, unwavering, ingrained trait
With the patience to work and the strength to wait.
It's part of a man when his skies are blue,
It's part of him when he has work to do.
The brave man never is freed of it.
He has it when there is no need of it.
Courage was never designed for show;
It isn't a thing that can come and go;
It's written in victory and defeat
And every trial a man may meet.
It's part of his hours, his days and his years,
Back of his smiles and behind his tears.
Courage is more than a daring deed:
It's the breath of life and a strong man's creed.
Source: http://www.ellenbailey.com/poems/ellen_264.htm
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Please stand by for an important message.
We interrupt our regularly scheduled post for an important message. I am about 500 hits away from 5000! I know that’s a small drop in the bucket compared to most but after only 9 months of blogging and never expecting more then a few hits I am pretty amazed that I am nearing the 5000 mark. So to celebrate this milestone I want to award a decent prize to the 500 reader .I will mail to the person who is number 5000 my copy of “The Last of the Mohicans.” by James Fenimore Copper with Daniel Day-Lewis on the cover. That’s really why I bought the book and I had just seen the movie. The movie was nothing like the book ands as a result I never actually read it. Therefore it is almost new condition despite having been published in 1992. At the rate I get hits I think we should have a winner by the end of the month. Good luck I hope someone out there will enjoy the book if it’s only to look at the cover. Daniel Day-Lewis was so hot in that movie. “I will come for you no matter what “That still makes me go all gooey inside.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Vocabulary word of the week.
This week’s word is diet. I chose this word because I have joined a weight loss challenge with several of my blogger buddies and so far I have managed to lose 5 pounds but have held steady for the past two weeks. Holding steady is not getting me any closer to either my goal or the prize. With that in mind I thought I would look up the word to see exactly what the definition is, its origin, and history. I figured I already knew that it meant to regulate your selection of food in order to lose weight. I was surprised to learn that one definition is the usual food or drink of a person or animal. I find that definition empowering. I tend to have a negative attitude about diet because I most often associate it with removing all the good stuff from what I eat and learn to love broccoli and baked fish. Knowing that a diet is the usual food a person eats I now understand that I have always been on a diet, every one is always on a diet. I have just been on a bad one. I now have to choose a diet that is healthy, tastes good and I can live with. Therefore it must include the occasional chocolate and cheese. If I can do that I know will be ok.
Word: diet
Definition
Noun:
1. The usual food and drink of a person or animal.
2. A regulated selection of foods, as for medical reasons or cosmetic weight loss.
3. Something used, enjoyed, or provided regularly: subsisted on a diet of detective novels during his vacation.
Adjective:
1. Of or relating to a food regimen designed to promote weight loss in a person or an animal: the diet industry.
2.
a. Having fewer calories.
b. Sweetened with a noncaloric sugar substitute.
3. Designed to reduce or suppress the appetite: diet pills; diet drugs.
Verb:
To eat and drink according to a regulated system, especially so as to lose weight or control a medical condition.
Or
To regulate or prescribe food and drink for.
Origin:
Middle English diete, from Old French, from Latin diaeta, way of living, diet, from Greek diaita, back-formation from diaitāsthai, to live one's life, middle voice of diaitān, to treat.
Source: http://www.answers.com/diet
Word: diet
Definition
Noun:
1. The usual food and drink of a person or animal.
2. A regulated selection of foods, as for medical reasons or cosmetic weight loss.
3. Something used, enjoyed, or provided regularly: subsisted on a diet of detective novels during his vacation.
Adjective:
1. Of or relating to a food regimen designed to promote weight loss in a person or an animal: the diet industry.
2.
a. Having fewer calories.
b. Sweetened with a noncaloric sugar substitute.
3. Designed to reduce or suppress the appetite: diet pills; diet drugs.
Verb:
To eat and drink according to a regulated system, especially so as to lose weight or control a medical condition.
Or
To regulate or prescribe food and drink for.
Origin:
Middle English diete, from Old French, from Latin diaeta, way of living, diet, from Greek diaita, back-formation from diaitāsthai, to live one's life, middle voice of diaitān, to treat.
Source: http://www.answers.com/diet
Sunday, September 21, 2008
And a weigh we go!
Sorry for the late posting but I was so intent on getting to my test on time yesterday that I forgot about steeping on the scale. Both tests went well, I feel pretty good about my answers and my written responses so now I wait for about 6 weeks to get my results. I hate waiting. But the good news is I maintained last week. I have also figured out that you can’t loose weight by saying you are on a diet you actually have to be on a diet, so this week a little less talk and a lot more action.
Friday, September 19, 2008
What’s cooking?
What’s cooking?
This week’s recipe is for spaghetti sauce. This is the sauce I grew up with and have loved since I was a child, but it is not your typical spaghetti sauce. In fact the only thing it has in common with most spaghetti sauces is that it is served over noodles. The history of the sauce is actually pretty interesting. I had always thought that this was my mom’s recipe that she had learned from her mom, only to find out later that the recipe actually came from my mom’s friend’s mother who played bridge with my grandmother. . I love it, my husband and children prefer Ragu, but then I think they are odd.
Spaghetti sauce
Hi here is your recipe:
1 can Cream of Tomato soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can water
1 lb hamburger (browned)
1 sm. chopped onion
1 tsp chili powder
salt and pepper
Mix browned hamburger, onion, soups, seasonings
and water. Simmer uncovered about 45mins. Serve over spaghetti
This is one of those recipes that just gets better the more it is reheated, so make lots.
This week’s recipe is for spaghetti sauce. This is the sauce I grew up with and have loved since I was a child, but it is not your typical spaghetti sauce. In fact the only thing it has in common with most spaghetti sauces is that it is served over noodles. The history of the sauce is actually pretty interesting. I had always thought that this was my mom’s recipe that she had learned from her mom, only to find out later that the recipe actually came from my mom’s friend’s mother who played bridge with my grandmother. . I love it, my husband and children prefer Ragu, but then I think they are odd.
Spaghetti sauce
Hi here is your recipe:
1 can Cream of Tomato soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can water
1 lb hamburger (browned)
1 sm. chopped onion
1 tsp chili powder
salt and pepper
Mix browned hamburger, onion, soups, seasonings
and water. Simmer uncovered about 45mins. Serve over spaghetti
This is one of those recipes that just gets better the more it is reheated, so make lots.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wow I never knew that.
According to NPR the National Education Association found that statewide the percentage of men who taught elementary school was only 9%. That is really low and really sad. Men have so much to offer in the classroom and children can benefit a great deal from having the perspective of both a female teacher as well as a male teacher.
I think the reason why so many women tend to teach at the lower grade levels is we tend to associate the younger grades with more nurturing environments. As the children grow older they need less nurturing, so as they move on to higher grades you begin to see more male teachers. This is an unfair stereotype that men can not nurture. Many men are very nurturing and are quite capable of shepherding the younger children through their elementary years.
From Kindergarten through sixth grade my son had one male teacher, his fourth grade teacher. He is a wonderful teacher and my son learned a great deal form him. One of the most valuable lessons my son learned was that men can be teachers too. For a while he wanted to be a teacher himself. Now he wants to go to the Air Force Academy or design cars. But by having had a male elementary teacher he knows that he can do anything he wants to whether it’s is etching or flying or designing the next generation of cars. I only wish more boys could have the opportunity of being taught by a man.
I think the reason why so many women tend to teach at the lower grade levels is we tend to associate the younger grades with more nurturing environments. As the children grow older they need less nurturing, so as they move on to higher grades you begin to see more male teachers. This is an unfair stereotype that men can not nurture. Many men are very nurturing and are quite capable of shepherding the younger children through their elementary years.
From Kindergarten through sixth grade my son had one male teacher, his fourth grade teacher. He is a wonderful teacher and my son learned a great deal form him. One of the most valuable lessons my son learned was that men can be teachers too. For a while he wanted to be a teacher himself. Now he wants to go to the Air Force Academy or design cars. But by having had a male elementary teacher he knows that he can do anything he wants to whether it’s is etching or flying or designing the next generation of cars. I only wish more boys could have the opportunity of being taught by a man.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Wednesday’s poetry corner.
I just spent the last 45 minutes being tutored in basic algebra and geometry by my 13 year old son in order to prepare for the math portion of the AEPA. My son understands math better than I do and did a pretty decent job of explaining when you subtract minus you may end up with a positive. Who knew? Well maybe all of you did, but I forgot it a long tome ago. So with that in mind I wanted to find a good math poem and I found this one by Jimmy Buffett. It pretty much sums up how I feel about math. I hope you all get a chuckle out of it.
MATH SUKS
by Jimmy Buffett,
from Beach House on the Moon
If necessity is the mother of invention
The I'd like to kill the guy who invented this.
The numbers come together in some kind of third dimension
A regular algebraic bliss.
Let's start with something simple, like one and one ain't three
And two plus two will never get you five.
There are fractions in my subtraction and x don't equal y
But my homework is bound to multiply.
Math suks. math suks.
I'd like to burn this textbook, I hate this stuff so much.
Math suks. math suks.
Sometimes I think that I don't know that much
But math suks.
I got so bored with my homework, I turned on the TV.
The beauty contest winners were all smiling through their teeth.
Then they asked the new Miss America
Hey babe can you add up all those bucks?
She looked puzzled, then just said,
"Math suks".
Math suks. math suks.
You don't even have to spell it,
All you have to do is yell it...
Math suks. math suks.
Sometimes I think that I don't know that much
But math suks.
Geometry, trigonometry and if that don't tax your brain
There are numbers too big to be named.
Numerical precision is a science with a mission
And I think it's gonna drive me insane.
Parents fighting with their children, and the Congress can't agree
Teachers and their students are all jousting constantly.
Management and labor keep rattling old sabres
Quacking like those Peabody ducks.
Math suks. math suks.
You don't even have to spell it,
All you have to do is yell it...
Math suks. math suks.
Sometimes I think that I don't know that much
But math suks.
Taken from this web site: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/Div/Winchester/jhhs/math/poetry/mathpoet.html
There are a lot of fun math songs and poems at this site if you happen to be a math geek.
MATH SUKS
by Jimmy Buffett,
from Beach House on the Moon
If necessity is the mother of invention
The I'd like to kill the guy who invented this.
The numbers come together in some kind of third dimension
A regular algebraic bliss.
Let's start with something simple, like one and one ain't three
And two plus two will never get you five.
There are fractions in my subtraction and x don't equal y
But my homework is bound to multiply.
Math suks. math suks.
I'd like to burn this textbook, I hate this stuff so much.
Math suks. math suks.
Sometimes I think that I don't know that much
But math suks.
I got so bored with my homework, I turned on the TV.
The beauty contest winners were all smiling through their teeth.
Then they asked the new Miss America
Hey babe can you add up all those bucks?
She looked puzzled, then just said,
"Math suks".
Math suks. math suks.
You don't even have to spell it,
All you have to do is yell it...
Math suks. math suks.
Sometimes I think that I don't know that much
But math suks.
Geometry, trigonometry and if that don't tax your brain
There are numbers too big to be named.
Numerical precision is a science with a mission
And I think it's gonna drive me insane.
Parents fighting with their children, and the Congress can't agree
Teachers and their students are all jousting constantly.
Management and labor keep rattling old sabres
Quacking like those Peabody ducks.
Math suks. math suks.
You don't even have to spell it,
All you have to do is yell it...
Math suks. math suks.
Sometimes I think that I don't know that much
But math suks.
Taken from this web site: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/Div/Winchester/jhhs/math/poetry/mathpoet.html
There are a lot of fun math songs and poems at this site if you happen to be a math geek.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Tuesday’s person of the week.
This week’s person of the week is all the men and women who put themselves in harms way to protect the rest of us, sometimes even from ourselves. I am referring to the men and women who stayed behind during the recent hurricanes to rescue the silly people who thought they could weather a hurricane at home only to find out that they were wrong and need help getting out. This also includes the people who through no fault of their own found themselves in hospitals or care facilities in harms way and needed to be moved to safer ground. These men and women could have evacuated with the rest but instead stayed on the job and provided assistance to those who would not get out of harms way on their own despite the danger to themselves. This is to the men and women who keep us safe and look after us. We are grateful for all of you. All of you are all true heroes in my book.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Vocabulary word of the week.
Next Saturday I will be taking two tests. These two tests are probably the most important test I will take as I near the completion of my school work and apply for my teaching certificate. The first test will be in the morning is a test covering general subject knowledge, your Basic English, math, social studies, science and the arts. In the afternoon I will be tested on my professional knowledge or what I know about being a teacher. That one is actually more difficult because all I know about being a teacher is what I have learned from book and a few in class practicums. I therefore have decided to look at the word, test, to see its meaning and origin.
Word: Test
Parts of speech: it is both a noun and a verb.
Noun
A series of questions, problems, or physical responses designed to determine knowledge, intelligence, or ability.
Verb
To achieve a score or rating on tests: tested high on the entrance exams.
Origin and history of the word.
It comes from the Latin word testu and testum.
(Side note. The more I look into the origins of our common words and see that they are taken very often almost verbatim from Latin the more value I can se in learning the language. My son’s school requires their students take two years of Latin and I am really beginning to see the value.)
So if you would all keep me in mind as I prepare for these test I would be most grateful.
Word: Test
Parts of speech: it is both a noun and a verb.
Noun
A series of questions, problems, or physical responses designed to determine knowledge, intelligence, or ability.
Verb
To achieve a score or rating on tests: tested high on the entrance exams.
Origin and history of the word.
It comes from the Latin word testu and testum.
(Side note. The more I look into the origins of our common words and see that they are taken very often almost verbatim from Latin the more value I can se in learning the language. My son’s school requires their students take two years of Latin and I am really beginning to see the value.)
So if you would all keep me in mind as I prepare for these test I would be most grateful.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
And a weigh we go!
I was extremely busy and stressed last week what with studying for a final, starting my practicum helping my daughter with her school work we also has d a meeting with her teachers , an unexpected car break down and a sick son. He had a fever of 101 and was barking like a dog. He is better now and was back at school the next day. Despite all of that it was not as bad as I had feared when I stood on the scale this morning, I had stayed the same. I take my final this morning which I feel pretty good about, it will be al essay but I have studied well over the last week. Next week should be better I am hopping a new alternator will get the car back on the road, I will start preparing for next weeks AEPA examination and I will continue with my practicum which is going really well the teacher has awesome class room management skills and I will make better food choices and I am predicting a better result next week.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Thursdays and Friday's posts
Computer issues prevented me from posting yesterday , so here are Thursday's and Friday's posts.
Thursday
Wow I never knew that!
We don’t use only 10% of our brains after all, but in fact use 100%. This myth has been debunked by the people at Scientific American. It would not be very logical for 90% of our brains to be doing nothing most of the time. That would be a huge waist of energy and resources to support that much tissue if it wasn’t doing much of anything. So while it is comforting to think that the reason we haven’t accomplished all we would like to is because we have not been able to tap into the full ability of our brains the truth is we are using all of our brains and we had just better learn to deal with it.
Friday
What’s cooking?
This week I am going to share one of my favorite recipes when things get really busy.
Ingredients:
One phone book
One telephone
One finger
Directions:
Use the phone book to look up the number to the favorite pizza delivery place.
Dial the phone with your finger to place the call.
Once they answer be prepared to place your order. It is helpful to have planned this out before placing the call.
Now wait for the pizza to be delivered.
Prep time from start to finish varied depending on the time and day of the week, but it should not take more than 45 minutes to an hour before you are enjoying a piping hot delicious pizza.
Thursday
Wow I never knew that!
We don’t use only 10% of our brains after all, but in fact use 100%. This myth has been debunked by the people at Scientific American. It would not be very logical for 90% of our brains to be doing nothing most of the time. That would be a huge waist of energy and resources to support that much tissue if it wasn’t doing much of anything. So while it is comforting to think that the reason we haven’t accomplished all we would like to is because we have not been able to tap into the full ability of our brains the truth is we are using all of our brains and we had just better learn to deal with it.
Friday
What’s cooking?
This week I am going to share one of my favorite recipes when things get really busy.
Ingredients:
One phone book
One telephone
One finger
Directions:
Use the phone book to look up the number to the favorite pizza delivery place.
Dial the phone with your finger to place the call.
Once they answer be prepared to place your order. It is helpful to have planned this out before placing the call.
Now wait for the pizza to be delivered.
Prep time from start to finish varied depending on the time and day of the week, but it should not take more than 45 minutes to an hour before you are enjoying a piping hot delicious pizza.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Wednesdays’ poetry corner
I am much too busy to tell you how busy I am so I will let someone else tell you about their busy life.
This crowded life of God's good giving
No man has relished more than I;
I've been so goldarned busy living
I've never had the time to die.
So busy fishing, hunting, roving,
Up on my toes and fighting fit;
So busy singing, laughing, loving,
I've never had the time to quit.
I've never been one for thinking
I've always been the action guy;
I've done my share of feasting, drinking,
And lots of wenching on the sly.
What all the blasted cosmic show meant,
I've never tried to understand;
I've always lived just for the moment,
And done the thing that came to hand.
And now I'll toddle to the garden
And light a good old Henry Clay.
I'm ninety odd, so Lord, please pardon
My frequent lapses by the way.
I'm getting tired; the sunset lingers;
The evening star serenes the sky;
The damn cigar burns to my fingers . . .
I guess . . . I'll take . . . time off . . . to die.
Robert W. Service
Source: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-busy-man
This crowded life of God's good giving
No man has relished more than I;
I've been so goldarned busy living
I've never had the time to die.
So busy fishing, hunting, roving,
Up on my toes and fighting fit;
So busy singing, laughing, loving,
I've never had the time to quit.
I've never been one for thinking
I've always been the action guy;
I've done my share of feasting, drinking,
And lots of wenching on the sly.
What all the blasted cosmic show meant,
I've never tried to understand;
I've always lived just for the moment,
And done the thing that came to hand.
And now I'll toddle to the garden
And light a good old Henry Clay.
I'm ninety odd, so Lord, please pardon
My frequent lapses by the way.
I'm getting tired; the sunset lingers;
The evening star serenes the sky;
The damn cigar burns to my fingers . . .
I guess . . . I'll take . . . time off . . . to die.
Robert W. Service
Source: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-busy-man
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Tuesday’s person of the week.
This week person of the week is my husband Duane. Actually, he is always my person of the week; I would be lost without him. His support and encouragement while I have been going to school for the last 2 years has made it possible for me to be so close to the completion. He is truly a wonderful man and I love him more then I can express. He is patient and understanding and has pitched in way more than his share picking up the slack while I study. And so I say to the person of the week; thank you Duane, with out you none of this would be possible.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Vocabulary word of the week
Busy.
Part of speech: It is an adjective, noun, verb, and adverb.
Origin: It comes from the Middle English word bisi or busi which comes from the old English word bysig.
Definitions.
This is a busy little word.
It is an adjective as in I am going to be a very busy person studying for my Arizona Constitution final, my AEPA exams, starting my practicum and lessons for my Math methods course as well as managed a household and help my daughter with her schoolwork. And don’t forget making time to exercise for the weight loss challenge.
It is a noun as in the busyness of studying will take up my blogging time.
It is also an adverb as in I will be busily engaged in my school work fro the next few weeks.
And finally it is a verb as in I will be busying myself preparing to take several examinations over the next few weeks.
Part of speech: It is an adjective, noun, verb, and adverb.
Origin: It comes from the Middle English word bisi or busi which comes from the old English word bysig.
Definitions.
This is a busy little word.
It is an adjective as in I am going to be a very busy person studying for my Arizona Constitution final, my AEPA exams, starting my practicum and lessons for my Math methods course as well as managed a household and help my daughter with her schoolwork. And don’t forget making time to exercise for the weight loss challenge.
It is a noun as in the busyness of studying will take up my blogging time.
It is also an adverb as in I will be busily engaged in my school work fro the next few weeks.
And finally it is a verb as in I will be busying myself preparing to take several examinations over the next few weeks.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
And a weigh we go!
Today is the first official weigh for the weight loss challenge and here are my results. I am down 5 pounds. I think, my scale is sort of floopy and if you shift your weight at all it changes but I stood really still and it looks like five pounds so that’s what I am gong with. My success this week is not due to my being especially good, while I was good, it has more do to do with the fact that the Slim Fast I was having for breakfast for some reason has started to have very unpleasant effect on my colon. I will have to find something else for breakfast that treats my tummy better. I wanted to link this to all my other diet friends but I am still having trouble with blogger and have not had time to sit down and figure it out. I can download you tube but not pictures or links. Any way I hope every one had a good week and I wish you all success for next week.
Friday, September 5, 2008
What’s cooking?
After watching two days of the Republican convention and seeing McCain and Palin give incredible presentations, I am thinking that Obama has to be feeling pretty bad about now. And whenever I feel bad, nothing cheers me up like a good dessert. I suggest that Obama cheer himself up with a nice big piece of baked Alaska. The recipe is easy to follow and I am sure Michelle would be able to make it without any problem.
All you need is:
• 2 quarts vanilla ice cream, softened
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 8 egg whites
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white sugar
Then you do the following:
1. Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch round mixing bowl or deep 8-inch square container with foil. Spread ice cream in container, packing firmly. Cover and freeze 8 hours or until firm.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8x8 inch pan.
3. Prepare cake mix with egg and almond extract. Pour into prepared pan.
4. Bake in preheated oven according to package instructions, until center of cake springs back when lightly touched.
5. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar, salt and sugar until stiff peaks form.
6. Line a baking sheet with parchment or heavy brown paper. Place cake in center. Turn molded ice cream out onto cake. Quickly and prettily spread meringue over cake and ice cream, all the way to paper to seal. Return to freezer 2 hours.
7. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
8. Bake the Alaska on the lowest shelf, 8 to 10 minutes, or until meringue is lightly browned. Serve at once.
Source: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Baked-Alaska-2/Detail.aspx
I am betting that after this delicious treat the Obama’s will be feeling much better. If not, they may have to break out the “Chubby Hubby” or “Chunky Monkey.”
All you need is:
• 2 quarts vanilla ice cream, softened
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 8 egg whites
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white sugar
Then you do the following:
1. Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch round mixing bowl or deep 8-inch square container with foil. Spread ice cream in container, packing firmly. Cover and freeze 8 hours or until firm.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8x8 inch pan.
3. Prepare cake mix with egg and almond extract. Pour into prepared pan.
4. Bake in preheated oven according to package instructions, until center of cake springs back when lightly touched.
5. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar, salt and sugar until stiff peaks form.
6. Line a baking sheet with parchment or heavy brown paper. Place cake in center. Turn molded ice cream out onto cake. Quickly and prettily spread meringue over cake and ice cream, all the way to paper to seal. Return to freezer 2 hours.
7. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
8. Bake the Alaska on the lowest shelf, 8 to 10 minutes, or until meringue is lightly browned. Serve at once.
Source: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Baked-Alaska-2/Detail.aspx
I am betting that after this delicious treat the Obama’s will be feeling much better. If not, they may have to break out the “Chubby Hubby” or “Chunky Monkey.”
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wow I never knew that!
I never knew that I could go from luke warm about the upcoming presidential campaign to being very excited about it. It’s all because of a speech I heard last night. Vice presidential candidate Sara Palin spoke during the Republican convention and she was awesome! She was eloquent, funny and right on the money.
There were so many things she said last night that really resonated with me but I especially loved it when she said and I am paraphrasing her that she was not going to Washington to gain the approval of the media but to serve the people of the United States. When she said “some politicians use change to promote their careers while McCain will use his career to promote change” I all but stood up and cheered. Obama may talk in platitudes about change but when Palin says we will drill, we will build power plants, give jobs to Americans, use clean coal for power, and to explore alternative power sources such as wind, I knew she was talking about real change and not just blowing smoke like we have heard so often from the other side.
From the time McCain won the nomination for president I was committed to voting for him, but I was not very enthusiastic about doing so. For the first time I am really looking forward to going to the polls in November and casting my ballot for both McCain and Palin. I truly believe that they are what are best for our country and that by electing them to office we will see great things happen in the United States of America. And what is so funny is I really think the Obama bunch is scared of Palin and they know they have just seen their chances of winning the oval office disappear. It is good to be a Republican
There were so many things she said last night that really resonated with me but I especially loved it when she said and I am paraphrasing her that she was not going to Washington to gain the approval of the media but to serve the people of the United States. When she said “some politicians use change to promote their careers while McCain will use his career to promote change” I all but stood up and cheered. Obama may talk in platitudes about change but when Palin says we will drill, we will build power plants, give jobs to Americans, use clean coal for power, and to explore alternative power sources such as wind, I knew she was talking about real change and not just blowing smoke like we have heard so often from the other side.
From the time McCain won the nomination for president I was committed to voting for him, but I was not very enthusiastic about doing so. For the first time I am really looking forward to going to the polls in November and casting my ballot for both McCain and Palin. I truly believe that they are what are best for our country and that by electing them to office we will see great things happen in the United States of America. And what is so funny is I really think the Obama bunch is scared of Palin and they know they have just seen their chances of winning the oval office disappear. It is good to be a Republican
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Wednesday’s poetry corner.
Several of my blogger buddies and I started a weight loss challenge yesterday. Wyatt, Ssssteve, RT, Big bad wolf, Joe cool and I are all going to see which one of us can lose the most weight over the next six months. With that in mind I decided to use Wednesday’s poetry as a spring board to this diet. One might think with as many people who are dieting at any given time in the United States that finding a good poem about weight loss and dieting would be a piece of cake. Oooooh I said cake. But that is not the case. I was able to find one by weird Al Yankovic that made me laugh and heaven knows I can use all the humor I can get when I diet. I hope my diet buddies enjoy the poem as do the rest of you and I wish every body great success in this weight loss endeavor. I just wish a little more luck for me than the rest of the group.
(I would have linked to all of them but for some reason I can't link or post pictures, I am going to have to look in to this as soon as a have a free moment.)
Weird Al Yankovic’s poem
Grapefruit Diet
Who’s that waddlin’ down the street
It’s just me ’cause I love to eat
Fudge and twinkies and deviled ham
Who’s real flabby? yes, I am!
Every picture of me’s
Gotta be an aerial view
Now my doctor tells me
There’s just one thing left to do
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Throw out the pizza and beer
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Oh, get those jelly donuts out of here
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Might seem a little sever
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
I’m gettin’ tired of my big fat rear
Blow, fatty!
Well, I used to live on chocolate sauce
Made sumo wrestlers look like Kate Moss
Walked down an alley and I got stuck
I got more rolls than a pastry truck
When I’m all done eating
I eat a little more
When I leave a room
First I gotta grease the door
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Can’t have another eclair
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
I gotta decrease my derriere
I’m on a grapefruit diet
I’m on a grapefruit diet
I’m on a grapefruit diet
No more pie now
No more creme brulee
Lay off the gravy
And souffle
No french fri-yi-yies now
No ice cream parfait
Mr. cheese nacho
Stay away
Oh I think I’d sell my soul
For a triple patty melt
But I need a boomerang
When I put on my belt
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Lay off the 3 musketeers
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Until my big booty disappears
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Eat ’em till they’re comin’ out of my ears
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
’cause I haven’t seen my feet in years
I’m on a grapefruit diet
I’m on a grapefruit diet
I’m on a grapefruit diet
I think I’m about ready for a quarter pounder with extra cheese
I need a side order of onion rings
And don’t forget to super-size that
Source: http://www.poemhunter.com/song/grapefruit-diet/
(I would have linked to all of them but for some reason I can't link or post pictures, I am going to have to look in to this as soon as a have a free moment.)
Weird Al Yankovic’s poem
Grapefruit Diet
Who’s that waddlin’ down the street
It’s just me ’cause I love to eat
Fudge and twinkies and deviled ham
Who’s real flabby? yes, I am!
Every picture of me’s
Gotta be an aerial view
Now my doctor tells me
There’s just one thing left to do
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Throw out the pizza and beer
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Oh, get those jelly donuts out of here
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Might seem a little sever
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
I’m gettin’ tired of my big fat rear
Blow, fatty!
Well, I used to live on chocolate sauce
Made sumo wrestlers look like Kate Moss
Walked down an alley and I got stuck
I got more rolls than a pastry truck
When I’m all done eating
I eat a little more
When I leave a room
First I gotta grease the door
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Can’t have another eclair
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
I gotta decrease my derriere
I’m on a grapefruit diet
I’m on a grapefruit diet
I’m on a grapefruit diet
No more pie now
No more creme brulee
Lay off the gravy
And souffle
No french fri-yi-yies now
No ice cream parfait
Mr. cheese nacho
Stay away
Oh I think I’d sell my soul
For a triple patty melt
But I need a boomerang
When I put on my belt
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Lay off the 3 musketeers
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Until my big booty disappears
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
Eat ’em till they’re comin’ out of my ears
Grapefruit diet (diet!)
’cause I haven’t seen my feet in years
I’m on a grapefruit diet
I’m on a grapefruit diet
I’m on a grapefruit diet
I think I’m about ready for a quarter pounder with extra cheese
I need a side order of onion rings
And don’t forget to super-size that
Source: http://www.poemhunter.com/song/grapefruit-diet/
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Tuesday’s person of the week
If my computer was working properly you would see a picture of McCain and Palin here but for some reason I am unable to post pictures. (Any ideas? Anybody?)
I know just about every other person has posted about McCain’s choice for vice president but I still wanted to put in my two cents worth. I have always liked McCain as a person. I respect his service to our country and his courage under trying times but I have never liked his politics when it came to cozying up with the democrats. Like I tell my children - you shouldn’t play with mean people; play with the nice ones instead. And I must admit that I was more than a little worried about his chance to beat Obama considering Obama is young articulate and as Joe Biden would say ”clean”. Just when I think he might lose he comes out with what I think is a magnificent choice for vice president, Sara Palin. I like her and the more I hear about her, the better I like her. She balances out the republican ticket beautifully. I think McCain is likely to be sitting behind the desk in the oval office come January with Sara by his side. This is fabulous on so many levels. First we will have our very first female vice president ever and she will be a republican. Second, in eight years we will have our very first female president. Yes it is indeed a good time to be a republican and a female. Yeah us.
I know just about every other person has posted about McCain’s choice for vice president but I still wanted to put in my two cents worth. I have always liked McCain as a person. I respect his service to our country and his courage under trying times but I have never liked his politics when it came to cozying up with the democrats. Like I tell my children - you shouldn’t play with mean people; play with the nice ones instead. And I must admit that I was more than a little worried about his chance to beat Obama considering Obama is young articulate and as Joe Biden would say ”clean”. Just when I think he might lose he comes out with what I think is a magnificent choice for vice president, Sara Palin. I like her and the more I hear about her, the better I like her. She balances out the republican ticket beautifully. I think McCain is likely to be sitting behind the desk in the oval office come January with Sara by his side. This is fabulous on so many levels. First we will have our very first female vice president ever and she will be a republican. Second, in eight years we will have our very first female president. Yes it is indeed a good time to be a republican and a female. Yeah us.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Vocabulary word of the week.
In honor of the holiday this week’s word of the week is labor.
Yes I know every one knows what labor means but it is a very versatile word with an interesting origin.
It is a noun, a verb and an adjective all rolled into one handy little word.
Origin: The word labor is a Middle English word that comes from both the French word labour and the Latin word labor.
Uses.
It is a noun as in:
1.
a. Physical or mental exertion, especially when difficult or exhausting; work. See synonyms at work.
b. Something produced by work.
2. A specific task.
3. A particular form of work or method of working: manual labor.
4. Work for wages.
5.
a. Workers considered as a group.
b. The trade union movement, especially its officials.
6. Labor a political party representing workers' interests, especially in Great Britain.
7. The process by which childbirth occurs, beginning with contractions of the uterus and ending with the expulsion of the fetus or infant and the placenta.
It is also a verb as in:
To work; toil: labored in the fields.
1. To strive painstakingly: labored over the needlepoint.
2.
a. To proceed with great effort; plod: labored up the hill.
b. Nautical. To pitch and roll.
3. To suffer from distress or a disadvantage: labored under the misconception that others were cooperating.
4. To undergo the efforts of childbirth.
1. To deal with in exhaustive or excessive detail; belabor: labor a point in the argument.
2. To distress; burden: I will not labor you with trivial matters.
And finally it is an adjective in:
1. Of or relating to labor.
2. Labor Of or relating to a Labor Party.
There, you have a versatile word that also proves how smart you are beacsue you now speak Latin. Now if you will excuse I need to go and labor in my kitchen, it’s a mess.
Resource used: http://www.answers.com/labor
Yes I know every one knows what labor means but it is a very versatile word with an interesting origin.
It is a noun, a verb and an adjective all rolled into one handy little word.
Origin: The word labor is a Middle English word that comes from both the French word labour and the Latin word labor.
Uses.
It is a noun as in:
1.
a. Physical or mental exertion, especially when difficult or exhausting; work. See synonyms at work.
b. Something produced by work.
2. A specific task.
3. A particular form of work or method of working: manual labor.
4. Work for wages.
5.
a. Workers considered as a group.
b. The trade union movement, especially its officials.
6. Labor a political party representing workers' interests, especially in Great Britain.
7. The process by which childbirth occurs, beginning with contractions of the uterus and ending with the expulsion of the fetus or infant and the placenta.
It is also a verb as in:
To work; toil: labored in the fields.
1. To strive painstakingly: labored over the needlepoint.
2.
a. To proceed with great effort; plod: labored up the hill.
b. Nautical. To pitch and roll.
3. To suffer from distress or a disadvantage: labored under the misconception that others were cooperating.
4. To undergo the efforts of childbirth.
1. To deal with in exhaustive or excessive detail; belabor: labor a point in the argument.
2. To distress; burden: I will not labor you with trivial matters.
And finally it is an adjective in:
1. Of or relating to labor.
2. Labor Of or relating to a Labor Party.
There, you have a versatile word that also proves how smart you are beacsue you now speak Latin. Now if you will excuse I need to go and labor in my kitchen, it’s a mess.
Resource used: http://www.answers.com/labor
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